Undead Molly Hates Burlington’s Kickball League

1. We could play croquet! But I would unfortunately not feel safe. In fact, I don’t think I will feel safe going to Oakledge for a very long time.Thanks Eva, Greg, Bill, and everyone else who chimed in. You all get big hugs next time I see you! In case anyone else is listening:1. I have systemic lupus and idiopathic colonic inertia. The former means photosensitivity, joint pain, fatigue, fevers, pleurisy (inflammation of the linings around my lungs), vertigo, and nephritis (inflammation of my kidneys). The latter means that my large intestine does not work. None of this is fun and requires tons of medications, constant medical monitoring, a whole team of specialists bugging me and disagreeing with each other all the time, surgeries, and feeling too sick to even leave the apartment to go out to the grocery store many days.2. My blog is not a rant blog. I’ve kept it up for about three years (starting first on MySpace) and it’s mainly just a way for me to keep in touch with my friends and family. In all these years I have only 20 posts labeled “complaining”, whereas there are 108 with the label “happy”. To judge my entire life philosophy and the content of my character based on one short blog post is cretinous.3. I still don’t understand why anyone gives two damns what I think, anyway?!4. When I contacted the parks department to ask them to update their website to reflect the new charging hours, they said the hours had changed because the pavilions were being rented out until 9pm so they needed to now have staff there to collect for parking. It was not a correlation/causation fallacy on my part.If I might say just one last thing: the fact that they had to be instructed by their organizers to stop acting like a bunch of vicious thugs speaks louder and more poignantly than any of the feeble sentences on my blog ever could. Innocent fun-lovin’ scamps, indeed.

2. Hi Greg. Yes, there is a commenting policy — it’s linked in the top right-hand corner of every page. And yes, I do delete or shut down comments on occasion, though rarely (see the white supremacist comments on the recent Second Vermont Republic post for an example). This lively discussion didn’t rise (sink?) to that level.For the record, I have no opinion either way about kickball. And I could easily be lumped in with either the twee hipsters or the Algebars (RIP) dorks. I think it would be kinda cool to host a hipster/dork BBQ at one of the picnic shelters at Oakledge, to make up. Maybe we could all play bocce?

3. Dan- thanks for the comments taking both sides in a reasonable manner. I know about the film and the reference, etc.- the point of my sarcasm was that I find it ironic for a bunch of folks to dogpile someone with health issues and in a literal physical sense, debilitated, one of whom uses a fake name that brings up images of German militarism. Kind of uncool for a few reasons, in my opinion. Either way- I say again, thanks for seeing a both sides.Joanna- Actually, no I don’t really need your SSN or your address of your Aunt Petunia either- I think your retort is more than a a bit melodramatic. Of course there’s no protocol, there are no rules- anyone can lay down a trolling on anyone else here. There are (as of yet) no moderated rules here on Blurt censoring anyone. I just think that when commenters want to sling around the sarcasm, attacks, mud or what have you, they at least should be willing to say who they are rather than snipe and run anonymously. In this public forum we all choose what is or is not our level of privacy and tolerance for exposure- I’d just rather not hide when I vent. If I’m wrong or right- then I’M wrong or right, not “Dasboot”, “Anonymous”,etc., and accept the responses and be called to task by the rest of the public who wish to do so. If I offended anyone other than “German film reference”, I apologize for setting phasers on broad pattern.

4. Thanks, Greg. I didn’t really think it was directed toward me. I just wanted you to know that there are LOTS of us and only a few dove in to comment at all. In fact, I received some emails from other players who saw things basically the way I do asking everybody to just back off. They’re all doing their part by not joining in here. Isn’t that the creepy part of all the blog/MySpace/Facebook stuff? I’m soooo glad I’m not a teenager right now, airing my every thought and move so everyone can comment on it. Really, the kickball thing is just laid back fun. Some people took offense (from Molly’s angle and the players) but ultimately we all share the space and try to use it well.Hope you (and your hookah 🙂 are doing well. -B

5. Wow! I haven’t seen this kind of inane sniping in a long time. Kinda reminds me of Solid State. Isn’t blogging fun?I don’t play kickball. But before I add my two cents, I should point out that some of my best friends are hipst . . . um, kickballers. No, it’s true. My girlfriend plays (Hi, honey!). So does the co-commissioner of my hipst . . . um, my bowling league (we wear funny shoes too, but mostly ‘cuz we have to). In fact, I think there’s probably a lot of crossover between the ol’ WBGL (Whiskey Ball Gutter League) and kickball. They all seem like nice folks to me — and responsible drinkers, for what it’s worth.Now, I malign hipsters as much as, if not more than the next guy — even though you could argue that I am one (ironic, no?). And I make fun of dorks too — again, you could argue . . .In any event, as both a borderline hipster and borderline dork (dorkster?), I’m uniquely qualified to comment on this one, methinks. I usually reserve my comments for my own little corner of Cyberspace, but here goes:You’re all fuckin’ nuts.Molly & dorks, it blows that you’ve been priced out of Oakledge. But I still fail to see how it relates at all to kickball. It’s $5 bucks until 9 p.m. every night, right? The timing of the price hike with the advent of kickball seems more coincidence than causation. BTW, I really like your blog, Molly.Kickballers & hipsters (& closet dorks), chill out. I understand Molly’s post struck a nerve and was unnecessarily insulting. But it’s just a blog, fer chrissakes. Take the higher ground. So one person doesn’t like you. Big effin’ deal! Pssst . . . she’s probably not the only one. As someone who is regularly the target of invective-laden rants, I can tell you it’s not worth your time to respond. And when you get overly defensive, it just makes you look insecure. By lowering yourselves to petty insults, you just add fuel the flames and end up with . . . well, this crap. To mangle a phrase, speak softly and kick big red balls.Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to wash my “Balls Out” jersey for my own pseudo sport, beer league softball. Someone spilled Miller Lite on it and it smells like Camels.PS- Greg, “Das Boot” is a kickball team named after the Wolfgang Peterson movie. And while the film is ostensibly about Nazis, it’s a classic. I’ve aways thought the name was pretty clever, actually.

6. Actually, I have no problem with rolling in the mud considering the comment by “DasBoot”; “…If you go to the park to swim, you sure seem in well enough health to walk your ass there in the first place.” If “Dasboot” wants to insult individuals with disabilities then yeah, it is worth slapping the gutless troll with a mudball. I don’t have any need to respond to this “shitty, rude inaccuracy” (well put, Bridget) with anything less vitriolic or insulting. Yes I’m argumentative and I speak my mind; angrily, peacefully or otherwise. If I see something that stinks I say it stinks, not tip toe around it. Having said that, my comment was not a response to your post Bridget. As I said in my original comment, “…Not all of you, but most, it seems, can dish it out only while hiding behind Nom de Plume. ” Not all, but most. Not you, but most of the rest of these folks. I think that was made clear. Unfortunately, unlike a message board,where specific quoting is possible, I suppose it could have been confused as such- but really given my clear language- “…I address this particularly stupid missive by “DasBoot”;” and my complaint over “joanna”(again anonymity) I’m kind of at a loss as to why you might think my post was directed to you. I wouldn’t imagine you to be the type to be guilty of any of the ignorance and somewhat threatening opinion that fellow baller “Dasboot” seems to be harboring. And as you say you do use your name.I think you’re spot on with your defense and assessment of Molly’s rant on her blog- and what goes on in blogs in general.

7. I play kickball and I DID use my real name. Why wouldn’t I? There are alot of people who play kickball in this league and a few of them got shitty and rude about someone’s (pretty shitty, rude, and inaccurate) comments. Most of us don’t vent like that. I remember you, Greg (from a long time ago- I worked at Boomer’s and the O.P.). You never seemed like the type to roll in the mud either. This sucks all around. Thanks, Cathy, for bringing such an important topic to your forum.

8. “…I will not, however, volley with trolls. …” That’s OK, Molly- I got nothing better to do. I have a little time before I have to go to my “Unix Users who play Magic and LARP while drinking Absinthe at the LAN center” Meeting…First, I find it interesting that non-kickballers have the guts to use their real names- I suppose that even when dorks get a little sporty they lose their courage and go the “pile on” route. Not all of you, but most, it seems, can dish it out only while hiding behind Nom de Plume. I address this particularly stupid missive by “DasBoot”; “If you go to the park to swim, you sure seem in well enough health to walk your ass there in the first place.”Wow. Slow clap, genius, you just managed to shoot an awesome anti-disabled-person cannonball off her bow. Good JOB, SPORTO! So I guess maybe it might not have occurred to you that many individuals have no(or less) problem driving or riding in a car because they can deal with a reclining position? Or that said disabled individuals MIGHT need to cut an impossible walking distance by using a car to get to their destination. Maybe you were just blissfully ignorant of the fact that even individuals with no lower body mobility whatsoever operate specially designed vans to get from place to place(and in fact have every right to do so)? How about the fact that to be honest, she and anyone else with special needs or not has a right to drive up and use the facilities? Or maybe you’re just an ignorant @$$h01e? Dasboot, the only thing funny about you and your thoughtless glib retort is your alias. “Dasboot”…hm. Ignorant attacks on those weaker or vulnerable. Hm. COUGHNazisCOUGH-I mean nothing. On to the Mensa member that seems to believe that only the neighbors of the park have the right , duty or something to report noise, drunkenness, etc. Um, actually, no. In fact, last time I remember, anyone in the proximity of behavior that is illegal or disruptive to the degree of calling in the law is, in fact, allowed to do so. Also don’t count on the fact that the neighbors won’t complain- it’s possible they might just be waiting for you guys to get it together and police yourselves.PLW? Thanks for posting some useful info. Now please excuse me while I leave with my Hookah- I’m late to go smoke my green tea/clove/herbal X blend with my fellow pretentious Steampunk/gamer/vampire/art-fags.

9. Yikes. What’s the big deal? I go away for just a little while and come back to find links to all this craziness in my inbox? Let’s dial it back, please. We use and share a public place. As far as I can tell no one is stepping on anyone else’s rights to it. We just bumped up against differing asthetics- so what?Kickball is a fun, wonderfully ridiculous, well-organized outdoor group activity. Yes, it can sometimes be a bit loud and rowdy (not unlike other sports, public BBQs, etc.). Does this come as a surprise to anyone? I think we do a excellent job maintaining a level of civic responsibility. We like the place. We want to keep coming back.Molly seems like an intelligent articulate person sometimes riled up enough to spout on her blog. Call me crazy, but that seems to be why many blogs exist. Whereas you used to call your friends and say “Can you believe those kickball motherfuckers?”, now it’s a (potentially) worldwide “discussion”. Puh-leeeeze. If I had a blog, I’d rant about those who hit the keyboard every time they have an opinion. Instead I do the next best thing. I just don’t read them. It’s not that tricky. Live and let blog.In fact, I’ve spent too much of my time on this already. I’m going to do something more meaningful like paint my toenails. Come thursday I’ll be there trying to send that red ball to outerspace and relaxing with a burger and a cold (probably cheap) beer. I do hope parks and rec gives Molly and anyone else who wants to share the park but needs assistance a pass. We’re all pretty lucky to have a publicly maintained choice piece of lakefront. If it was her family that kept it from developers then they have my utmost thanks.What’s a hipster sign off? Is “Peace Out” ironic enough?

10. I suggest you may want to stop drinking the Hatorade and find a new night other than Tuesdays to get your Magic: The Gathering love on down at Oakledge. We know it’s been hard on you and the rest of the dork squad since Algebars shut down,Really? You’re calling Molly a “dork?” And then you’re playing kickball? I think you might be taking your ironic gym class thing a little far.

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